If you would have told me ten years ago that I’d be living on the opposite side of the Earth, in Japan, married to a wonderful woman, and working as a “language facilitator” in the same city that Mr. Baseball was filmed in, I would have laughed in your face and gone back to drinking whatever liquor was deemed “cool” at the time.
I don’t believe that the stars guide our lives, but I do believe that we make decisions today without fully realizing just what the consequences will be a decade from now.
It was more than fifteen years ago when I first told my parents that I would move to Japan. I also mentioned at the same time that I would be married to an intelligent Japanese woman who would love the fact that I could design houses. While I may have given up on becoming an architect like my grandfather, the Asia-related decisions were not so easily passed by.
Reiko and I have been legally married for almost a year and a half, but our ceremony was one year ago today. To mark the occasion, we’ll be visiting the place of our first date, and later walking the 100 meters to the place where we got married. Yes, they are that close together. And no, we didn’t have our first date at a wedding planners’ 
We’ve had many good times, and even a few bad. We’ve overcome obstacles, barriers, and sicknesses. There were times when we were incredibly angry with each other, but this is rarely the case. And, if I had a chance to go back in time and do everything all over again …
… I would still get married to my wonderful Reiko-chan.
You have found your little piece of heaven. Don`t let anyone take it from you.
Your first. May 17 is my 10th, incidentally.
I met my J-wife almost 12 years ago (damn that’s along time). It also amazes me to think about it. 15 years ago, if I thought I would be a regular visitor to Japan and staying in a traditional Japanese home in a small rural town in Tochigi, I would have said I will win the mega-lottery before that would ever happen.
Congrats on your first anniversary. The first few years of marriage means making adjustments and conflicts are often inevitable. The important thing is not to be afraid of conflict but to concentrate on the means for effective and constructive resolution. The biggests gifts in a relationship are those of forgiveness and acceptance. Imagine how special it is to be able to disagree with someone and still have them love you unconditionally regardless. Being with someone who is willing to work towards a life long relationship is like winning the lottery a million times over.
May this merely be the first of many many more anniversaries!
Congrats on your 1st anniversary! O-shiawase ni.
@FreedomWV – I won’t anyone take my Reiko-chan away. That said, I know that I’ll need to share her with our kids when the time comes
@The 2-Belo – Ten years?!?! That’s a long time, for sure. I guess you and your wife must be completely adjusted to each other’s traits and habits by now
@Tornadoes28 – And here I always thought you were younger than me. I guess it was the 28 bit. I’m glad that you and your wife have found happiness together for so long
@Richard – Thanks for the kind words. I’m sure that Reiko and I will be together for many, many years to come
@Vince – Thanks Vince. It’s almost time for you and Arthur to celebrate one year, too. Any special plans in mind?
Mr. Baseball was filmed out here in Gifu?
Congrats on your anniversary!
Mr. Baseball was filmed in Nagoya, which just happens to be where I work
Thanks for the congrats!